RURAL HOSPITALS PAY MORE FOR DRUGS

Investigators with the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) have
uncovered considerable variations in
the prices paid for prescription drugs
by hospital pharmacies.

According to the GAO, the lowest
prices were scored by large teaching
hospitals in urban locations. Small,
nonteaching hospitals in rural areas
paid the highest prices, the investigators
told Congress.

"Major teaching hospitals paid prices that were an estimated 3.2% lower than
those paid by nonteaching hospitals for ‘specified covered outpatient drugs,'" the
agency reported. In contrast, "rural hospitals paid prices an estimated 4.4% higher
than those paid by urban hospitals for radiopharmaceuticals," and "large hospitals
paid prices an estimated 1.4% lower than those paid by small hospitals."